UpWork is a popular freelancing platform that connects businesses with remote workers. It is free to create an account and browse through the available jobs. However, when it comes to actually applying for a job, there is a fee involved.
The fee is charged by UpWork in order to access the contact information of the business that posted the job. This allows freelancers to directly contact the business and pitch their services. The fee is also used to help vet and screen potential candidates, which protects businesses from spam and scams.
Overall, UpWork is not completely free to use. There is a fee involved when applying for jobs, but the platform does offer a lot of value in terms of connecting businesses with high-quality remote workers.